Oregon State had more than a few bright spots in its Week 1 loss to top-25 Houston, and several of them came from places nobody saw coming. True freshman wideout Jesse Legree burst onto the scene with five catches for 136 yards in his first college game.
Xayvion Noland, the 5'6" speedster from UTRGV, chipped in a pair of first-down grabs and showed he already has timing with Braden Atkinson. Freshman receiver Cynai Thomas also made his mark, finishing with more than 30 receiving yards in his debut.
But as the Beavers turn to a matchup with top-15 Texas Tech, the focus shifts to a few players whose roles could shape Saturday’s game.
Sailasa Vadrawale looked like one of Oregon State’s most polished defenders in the opener. The junior defensive back took clear steps forward in Corvallis and was especially sharp in the second half against Houston.
He stacked up open-field tackles, made strong reads in coverage, and picked off a pass early in the fourth quarter. Against a Texas Tech offense that brings plenty of firepower, the Beavers will need that kind of presence again.
On the other side of the ball, true freshman running back Glass was Oregon State’s most efficient halfback in the opener even though he didn’t start. He averaged 4.2 yards on six carries and added three catches out of the backfield, giving the offense a little more versatility. Texas Tech had some trouble at times containing Abilene Christian’s multi-threat back in Week 1, so Glass could be in line for a larger workload and a bigger role in the Beaver attack.
Takari Hickle also made his case in a big way against Houston. The senior delivered on the preseason buzz, getting into the backfield repeatedly and finishing with 1.5 tackles for loss.
He was a key part of Oregon State’s improved run defense in the second half. That kind of disruption will matter again this week, especially with Texas Tech bringing a strong offensive line and young quarterback Will Hammond into the matchup.
Then there’s tight end Olsen, the Utah Tech transfer who showed exactly how dangerous a pass-catching tight end can be. He hauled in four passes for 54 yards, but the numbers only tell part of the story.
At 6'5", the senior demanded attention every time he lined up, and that helped create space for other Oregon State receivers. With the ability to run downfield or slip out into the flat after selling a block, Olsen gives the Beavers a weapon Texas Tech will have to account for snap after snap.
In Other News...
Houstons 2027 Class Is Starting To Look Like Another Sampson Reload
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For a program that has turned elite classes into sustained relevance, this is the kind of early momentum that matters. Houston has repeatedly paired top-end recruiting with player development and NBA-level production, and landing another nationally ranked big man only deepens the expectation that the next wave is already taking shape. The more interesting question now is how far the Cougars can push this class before it is finished. [Read more 🡒]
Conner Weigman Gave Houston A Passing Sign Fans Should Notice
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The most telling part is how his current season compares to where he was a year ago, with improvements showing up in both his overall passing metrics and specific game performances, including the matchup against Oregon State. Houston does not need a perfect stat line to feel encouraged, but it does need signs that the passing game is trending in the right direction. Weigmans recent work offers one of those signs, even if the fuller picture is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Houston Backfield Suddenly Feels Like One Of This Teams Best Stories
Re'Shaun Sanford IIs comeback has already become one of the more compelling subplots in Houstons backfield. After suffering ACL injuries in both knees in consecutive seasons and missing the 2023 and 2025 seasons, the running back finally got back on the field in the 2026 opener against Oregon State and immediately reminded the Cougars what he can bring, breaking loose for a 56-yard touchdown run.
For a player who had to sit through so much rehabilitation, the return carried real weight beyond one highlight play. Willie Fritz singled out Sanfords positive attitude through the long recovery process, and Houston can now see why that mattered so much, because his presence adds both a feel-good element and another layer to a backfield that suddenly looks like one of the teams better stories. [Read more 🡒]